Combined insole and arch-support.



No. 738,228.- PATENTED SEPT. 8, 1903. B. NATHAN.

COMBINED INSOLE AND ARCH SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, 1902.

H0 IODEL.

FIG.I.

UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903;

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN NATHAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,228, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed December 6, 1902. Serial No. 134,098. (No model- To all whmn it nmy concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN NATHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New'York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Insole and Arch- Support, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for supporting the arch of the human foot, and more particularly pertains to devices which are adapted to be placed inside of a shoe or boot for the purpose mentioned.

The object of the invention is to provide a support for the arch of the foot, said support being more especially intended for use by persons whose insteps are weak and permit the arches when not artificially supported to become flattened to a greater or less eX- tent when the weight of the body is sustained by the feet.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means of properly positioning such a support within the external footcovering worn by the user of the device, and in this connection my invention provides an improved form of insole and an improved means of attaching the latter to the arch-support.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide an arch-support which shall be functionally effective and at the same time shall yield to the movement of the foot, as in walking or running. Arch-supports have heretofore been made of metal or some other unyielding material and have frequently proved annoying, tiresome, and productive of permanent physical injury to the user; but my improved arch-support, that will in a general way retain a permanent form, but which will at the same time accommodate itself to the complex and diverse movements of the osseous structure of the arch of the human foot and which will also possess resiliency to some extent, may be used without discomfort to or fear of injury by the user. Moreover, an incidental advantage in using the material which I prefer for my improved arch-support is found in the lower cost of the latter relative to that of the above-mentioned rigid supports,

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of the invention in perspective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof looking from the point of contact of the support with the inner side of the upper of the shoe or other foot-covering. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section thereof at the line a a, Fig. 1, an outer covering being shown herein only.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a support, the upper side 1 whereof is adapted to conform the arch of a foot to a normal shape and to support it therein, the lower side 1" of the support being adapted in form to fit a side portion of a shank of a shoe or other foot-covering. An insole 2 is attached to the support 1 by being inserted in achannel 3, formed in thelatter. The insole2 comprises a heel portion 2 and a shank portion 2, and the support 1 is so positioned relatively of the insole that the transverse centers of said members register one with the other, at least approximately, when the device is intended to be used to support a normally formed arch; but the relative positions of said members may be varied according to the specific requirements of individual'users of the device. The transverse curve of the upper surface of the support rises from a point at or approximately near the outer edge of the insole 2 (the position mentioned being considered with reference to both feet of the user of the device) and rises toward themner edge of said insole, forming an upwardlyrising projection which has a transverselyconcave surface. The longitudinal curve of the upper surface of the support 2begins and ends at or approximately near the inner or opposite edge of the insole 2 and forms a longitudinally-convex surface. The curves mentioned may be varied to correspond to specific requirements, the upper surface of the support being thereby formed either more or less convex longitudinally than that shown in the drawings. The outer face of the upwardly-projecting portion of the support 1 is adapted in form to complement the inside face of the inner portion of the upper of the shoe at or near the part of the upper which is joined to the shank of the shoe.

The channel 3 is formed in the lower part of the support 1, thus forming on the latter a flange 8', which is relatively thin, the edges of the latter being formed at as acute an angle as may be consistent with the required strength of parts. The general form of the channel 3 may be that of the lower face of the support 1, and the part of the insole 2 which is inserted therein should preferably be priorly conformed complementarily of the channel.

The parts mentioned may be severally made of any suitable material. I prefer, however, to make the support 1 of some slightly resilient and semiflexible materialsuch, for instance, as rubber or felt--and to make the insole of leather, which may be cut to a proper peripheral form and molded to give it the required form of surfaces. The insole 2 may be secured in the channel 3 by any suitable means-such as rivets, stitched threads, or a suitable cementsuch, for instance, as a solution of rubber in a hydrocarbon or other suitable menstruum.

In Fig. 4 a covering is shown as surrounding the combined support and insole. If such cover be used, it may be made of any suitable material; but I prefer to make it of a soft kid, though chamois or buckskin may be preferred for use in some instances.

While I have described my invention as a combined insole and arch-support, it is evident-that supports which embody the improvements shown and described herein may be manufactured and vended separately and apart from insoles and are therefore within the scope of my invention under the conditions mentioned.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An arch-support having a transverselyconcave and longitudinally-convex uppersurface, and a channel adapted to receive a part of an insole.

2. An arch-support having a transverselyconcave and longitudinally-convex upper surface, and a channel conformed to the shape of the under face of the arch-support, and adapted to receive a part of an insole.

3. An arch-support having a channel conformed to the shape of the under face of the arch-support, and adapted to receive a part of an insole.

4. A solid, flexible and resilient arch-support having a transversely-concave and longitudinally-convex upper surface, and a channel adapted to receive a part of an insole.

5. A solid, flexible and resilient arch-support haviugatransversely-concave and longitudinally-convex upper surface, and a channel conformed to the shape of the under surface of the arch-support, and adapted to receive a part of an insole.

6. A solid, flexible and resilient arch-support having a channel conformed to the shape of the under face of the arch-support, and adapted to receive a part of an insole.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN NATHAN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. DAVIDS, J. O. PYBAS. 

